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US threatens Iran on bomb

Jon Swaine

BARACK OBAMA has delivered his starkest threat so far over Iran's nuclear ambitions, saying America is ''not bluffing'' when it warns military action could be used to stop Tehran acquiring the bomb.

Raising the spectre of a ''nuclear arms race in the most volatile region in the world'', the US President predicted that if Tehran's apparent ambitions succeeded, four or five countries in the Middle East would scramble to acquire nuclear weapons in a ''free for all''.

Speaking before critical talks in Washington with the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mr Obama moved to delay Israel from attacking Iran by stressing the US was prepared to ''watch Israel's back''. ''Both the Iranian and the Israeli governments recognise that when the United States says it is unacceptable for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, we mean what we say,'' Mr Obama said.

He dismissed Israeli fears that the US might resign itself to containing a nuclear Iran, telling The Atlantic magazine this ran ''completely contrary'' to his policy of nuclear non-proliferation. ''I think that the Israeli government recognises that, as President of the United States, I don't bluff,'' he said. ''I also don't, as a matter of sound policy, go around advertising exactly what our intentions are.''

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Mr Obama emphasised that the US policy included diplomatic pressure, political isolation and ''unprecedented and crippling'' economic sanctions. He also mentioned ''a military component'' adding: ''When I say we are not taking any option off the table we mean it. We are going to continue to apply pressure until Iran takes a different course.''

He claimed the risk of an Iranian bomb being passed to terrorist groups - which Tehran would feel emboldened in supporting - was ''profound'', and that surrounding states would feel forced to follow suit.

''It is almost certain that other players in the region would feel it necessary to get their own nuclear weapons,'' he said. ''So now you have the prospect of a nuclear arms race in the most volatile region in the world.''

The President is due to meet Mr Netanyahu at the White House tomorrow amid mounting tensions between their two administrations over the Iranian crisis. While Mr Obama is anxious to avoid being sucked into a fresh conflict months before the US presidential election, Israeli officials have threatened to pre-emptively strike Iran's nuclear facilities unless Washington delivers a more bellicose warning to Tehran.

Mr Netanyahu is said to be frustrated with mixed messages from Washington.

He is expected to seek ''red lines'' from the President that will trigger action if crossed by the Iranians. Mr Obama declined to outline what such limits were for the US and warned Israel that a hasty attack would allow Iran to portray itself as a ''victim''.